FVietnamese and
international human rights groups called this week on the government of Vietnam
to end what they called an “unprecedented crackdown” on peaceful political
expression that has seen at least 25 activists and bloggers jailed or exiled so
far this year.

Writing in an open letter dated Oct. 16, the coalition—including Vietnam-based
rights organizations and groups like Reporters Without Borders based in Western
countries—said the ongoing campaign of persecution “violates international law,
damages Vietnam’s reputation abroad, and limits the country’s progress.”

The government of Vietnam, a one-party communist state, “has resorted to
unsubstantiated national security charges (especially Articles 79 and 88 of the
Vietnamese Penal Code) to justify repression of free expression, free
information and peaceful advocacy,” the statement said.

Along with drawing attention to the plight of those sentenced or detained, the
group says it aims “in a sustained campaign” to provide support to jailed
activists and their families, and to push for diplomatic pressure on Hanoi “to
ensure the release of all political prisoners.”

Other organizations signing the letter include the Bau Bi Tuong Than
Association, the Brotherhood for Democracy, Chan Hung Nuoc Viet, Defend the
Defenders, English PEN, Lawyers for Lawyers, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, the
Viet Labor Movement, and Viet Tan.
Activist still missing

Meanwhile, Nguyen Bac Truyen, a member of the online Brotherhood for Democracy
advocacy group, remains missing since his July 30 arrest in Vietnam in
circumstances that his family members described as a “kidnapping.”

Group members also taken into custody were Protestant pastor Nguyen Trung Ton,
45, engineer Pham Van Troi, 45, and journalist Truong Minh Duc, 57, according to
a statement on the website of Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security.

The four men were charged with “carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing
the people’s administration” under Article 70 of Vietnam’s Penal Code and could
face the death penalty if convicted.

Speaking to RFA’s Vietnamese Service on Oct. 17, Truyen’s wife Kim Phuong said
she has received no news of her husband since his arrest.

“Every time I try to visit him, I leave some things for him to have, but I never
know if he has received them. I also don’t know how he is doing, or whether he
has been tortured,” she said.

“The Ministry of Public Security once told me that he was being held at the B14
Detention Center in Hanoi, but I have no way of know if they’re telling me the
truth.”
Summoned by police

Also speaking to RFA, Danang-based activist Khuc Thua Son said he has been
continuously summoned by authorities for questioning and must now report to
police on Oct. 20 to “clarify issues” relating to an unspecified case.

“The summons was not clear, and I asked them for further explanation, but they
haven’t responded,” he said.

“Because I wasn’t at home, they came to bother my parents, leaving them
frightened and depressed.”
Reported by RFA’s Vietnamese Service. Translated by Emily Peyman. Written in
English by Richard Finney.